Relevance: At all times, the issue of cultivating respect and pride for one's country has remained acute. To do this, you need to know the history in which individuals played an important role. It is the example of their attitude to the Motherland that will help them be proud and, most importantly, respect their native land.

Alexander Yaroslavich (Alexander Nevsky) Theoretical stage

Alexander was born in the family of Prince Yaroslav Vsevolodovich and Princess Theodosia, daughter of Prince Mstislav Udatny (Udaly). His grandfather was Vsevolod the Big Nest. In 1236, Alexander was imprisoned in Novgorod, and in 1239 he married Princess Alexandra Bryachislavna of Polotsk.

The victory won by him on the banks of the Neva, at the mouth of the Izhora on July 15, 1240 over the Swedes brought universal glory to the young prince. Prompted by papal letters, the Swedes undertook crusade against the Novgorod land. According to legend, their commander, the future ruler of Sweden, Jarl Birger, entered the Neva on ships and sent a message to Alexander: "If you can, resist, but know that I am already here and will captivate your land."

Birger wanted to sail to Lake Ladoga, take Ladoga and from there go along the Volkhov to Novgorod. But Alexander himself came out to meet the Swedes. His troops secretly approached the mouth of the Izhora, where the enemies stopped to rest, suddenly attacked them and began to chop with axes and swords before the Swedes had time to take up arms. Alexander personally participated in the battle and wounded the Swedish governor in the face: "... put a seal on the king's face with your sharp spear."

It is believed that it was for this victory that the prince began to be called Nevsky. But for the first time this name is found in sources only from the XIV century. It is known that some descendants of the prince also bore the name of Nevsky, perhaps in this way possessions in this area were assigned to them. One way or another, but the battle of 1240 prevented the loss of the shores of the Gulf of Finland by Russia, stopped the Swedish aggression on the Novgorod-Pskov lands.

Alexander returned to Novgorod with great glory, but in the same year he quarreled with the Novgorodians and left for Pereslavl-Zalessky. And soon a threat loomed over the city from the west. The Livonian Order, having gathered the German crusaders of the Baltic states, the Danish knights from Revel, and also enlisting the support of the papal curia and longtime rivals of the Novgorodians of Pskov, invaded the Novgorod lands. Novgorodians were forced to turn to Alexander for help. The prince immediately attacked the Germans, seized their fortress, brought the German garrison to Novgorod, set a part of it free, and hanged the traitors - vozhan and chud.

On the morning of April 5, 1242, the famous battle began, known in our chronicles as the Battle of the Ice. The German knights were defeated. The Livonian Order was faced with the need to make peace, according to which the crusaders renounced all claims to Russian lands, and also transferred part of Latgale to Novgorod.

Alexander had to go to Vladimir to say goodbye to his father, who was leaving for the Horde. In his absence, the German ambassadors came to Novgorod with a bow and a request: “What we occupied with a sword, Vod, Luga, Pskov, Letgola, we retreat from that; how many of your people were taken prisoner, those are ready to be exchanged: we will let yours go, and you will let ours let go." Novgorodians agreed and reconciled.

In 1247, Batu turned to Alexander: “Many nations have submitted to me, are you really the only one who doesn’t want to submit to my state? If you want to save your land, then come bow to me, and you will see the honor and glory of my kingdom.” Realizing that he was not able to resist the Mongols, Alexander did not go into conflict and went to Mongolia. Usually harsh and arrogant towards the vanquished, Batu received Alexander and his brother Andrei very affectionately. The chronicle says that the khan, seeing Alexander, said to his nobles: "Everything that I was told about him is all true: there is no one like this prince."

In 1252, Alexander went to the Don to Batu's son, Sartak, who now managed all affairs due to his father's old age. Sartak liked him even more than Batu, and a close friendship developed between them. And with his brother, Alexander, on the contrary, quarreled. Sartak approved Alexander on the Vladimir table, and sent an army against Andrei, which defeated his army. Andrei fled to Novgorod, but was not received there and retired to Sweden. The Tatars captured Pereslavl, killed its governor, captured the inhabitants and went back to the Horde. Alexander came to reign in Vladimir. Andrei also returned to Russia, reconciled with his brother, and he reconciled him with the khan and gave Suzdal as inheritance.

To do this, he traveled to the Horde several times. The last time was in 1262, after unrest in the Suzdal cities, where the Khan's Baskaks were killed and Tatar merchants were expelled. To appease the khan, Alexander personally went with gifts to the Horde. Khan kept the prince at his side all winter and summer.

During his burial in the Vladimir Monastery of the Nativity of the Virgin on November 23, 1263, an event took place, about which the chronicle says: "A miracle is wonderful and worthy of memory." When the body of Saint Alexander was placed in a reliquary, the steward of the monastery Sebastian and Metropolitan Kirill wanted to open his hand in order to put a parting spiritual letter. The holy prince, as if alive, stretched out his hand and took the letter from the hands of the metropolitan.

The veneration of Alexander Nevsky as a saint began long before he was canonized by the Russian Orthodox Church in 1547. Where people sincerely asked him for a miracle, it certainly happened. The saint got up from the tomb and encouraged his compatriots, for example, on the eve of the Battle of Kulikovo in 1380.

In 1725, Empress Catherine I established the Order of the Holy Prince Alexander Nevsky, one of the highest awards. Russian Empire. It existed until 1917 and was the second most important after the Order of the Holy All-Praised Apostle Andrew the First-Called.

In the conditions of terrible trials that hit the Russian lands, Alexander Nevsky managed to find the strength to confront Western conquerors, having won the glory of the great Russian commander, and also laid the foundation for relations with the Golden Horde. In the conditions of the ruin of Russia by the Mongol-Tatars, he skillfully weakened the hardships of the yoke, saved Russia from complete destruction. “The observance of the Russian land,” says Solovyov, “from trouble in the east, the famous feats for faith and land in the west, brought Alexander a glorious memory in Russia and made him the most prominent historical figure in ancient history from Monomakh to Donskoy".

Pichuzhkin Dmitry

Project for a school conference of a 6th grade student Dmitry Pichuzhkin

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Hero of Russia: Alexander Nevsky Prepared by a student of the 6th grade Pichuzhkin Dmitry Valerievich Teacher: Mikhailova M.A.

The purpose of the project: Alexander Nevsky shows us an example of courage, that we should not leave our Motherland when it is in danger, we must stand to the end. I want the people of Russia to remember Alexander Nevsky.

I chose Alexander Yaroslavich Nevsky for my project because he had two amazing victories. I remember his words: "Whoever comes to Russia with a sword, he will die by the sword." Alexander Nevsky was one of the most remarkable and grandiose figures in Russian history. He continued his father's wise policy of gathering forces in trampled Russia.

Family and childhood of Alexander Nevsky Alexander Yaroslavich Nevsky was born in the family of Prince Yaroslav Vsevolodovich of Pereyaslavl, the son of Vsevolod the Big Nest in 1221. Alexander, along with his brothers, according to the customs of the time, was put into the saddle early and began to teach military affairs. When he was 7 years old, he, along with his older brother Fedor, was sent to Novgorod to reign.

Father - Yaroslav Vsevolodovich His father Yaroslav went to the Horde, but did not return from there. His journey could not serve as a model, because it could not be called happy: they even said that he was poisoned in the Horde. KARAKORUM - the capital of the Mongol khans

Brother-Andrei Yaroslavich His brother, Andrei, son-in-law of Daniil Galitsky, although he had a noble soul, but his mind was windy and incapable of distinguishing true greatness from false: the prince in Vladimir was engaged in more animal catching than ruling; he obeyed the young advisers and, seeing the disorder that usually occurs in the State from the weakness of the Sovereigns, he blamed it not on himself, not on his favorites, but on the only unfortunate circumstances of the time. He could not save Russia from the yoke: at least, following the example of his father and brother, he could, by active, wise rule and prudent evasion in the reasoning of the Moghuls, ease the fate of his subjects: this was then true generosity. But Andrey, ardent, proud, decided that it was better to abandon the throne than to sit on it as a tributary of Batyev, and secretly fled from Vladimir with his wife and with the Boyars

Nevryuev's army

The unfortunate Andrei sought refuge in Novgorod; but the inhabitants did not want to accept him. He waited for his Princess in Pskov; left her in Kolyvan, or Revel, with the Danes, and went by sea to Sweden, where after some time his wife also came to him. But the good-natured caress of the Swedes could not console him in this arbitrary exile: the fatherland and the throne are not replaced by the friendliness of foreigners. Alexander prudent ideas subdued the anger of Sartak against the Russians and, recognized in the Horde as the Grand Duke, triumphantly entered Vladimir. Metropolitan Kirill, Abbots, Priests met him at the Golden Gate, also all the citizens and the Boyars under the command of the thousandth capital, Roman Mikhailovich. The joy was general.

Battle of the Neva 1240

Battle on the Ice 1242

Results of the project With the Sign of the Cross before the battle Falling three times, - Sword in hand, mouth with prayer, - Defeated Grand Duke! Clouds covered the sun... Blood flowed through the grass... He beat the Teutonic knights. He beat the Swedes on the Neva. Hundreds of years have passed since that one, Many have gone - like smoke ... But the prince has not been forgotten - He became a great saint!

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Municipal budgetary educational institution

"Gymnasium No. 5 in Sergiev Posad"

creative work

On this topic:

"Hero of Russia: Alexander Nevsky"

Head: Mikhailova M.A.

Sergiev Posad

2013-2014 academic year

Introduction………………………………………………………………..3

Chapter 1. The life and family of Alexander Nevsky………………………4

Chapter 2

Conclusion……………………………………………………………..8

List of sources……………………………………………………….9

INTRODUCTION

My project is dedicated to the hero of Russia, Prince Alexander Nevsky, I believe that the study of his life is relevant in our time, because Alexander Nevsky shows us an example of courage, that we should not leave our homeland when it is in danger, we must stand to the end. In my project, I explore the literature on Nevsky in more detail in order to learn more about his life and find information that is not in the school textbook.

I chose Alexander Yaroslavich Nevsky for my project because he had two amazing victories.
I remember his words: "Whoever comes to Russia with a sword, he will die by the sword." Alexander Nevsky was one of the most remarkable and grandiose figures in Russian history. He continued his father's wise policy of gathering forces in trampled Russia.

Object of research: biography of Alexander Nevsky.

Subject of research: military victories of the prince.

The purpose of my project: I want the people of Russia to remember Alexander Nevsky. In order to achieve this goal, I studied several works about Alexander Nevsky and based on this I designed a stand in the history room so that students learn more about him.

In my research, I used the study method historical literature dedicated to this topic. I read the story of L. A. Obukhova about the childhood and life of the prince, an excerpt from N.M. Karamzin, "The Life of Alexander Nevsky" and the story of D. Yemets about the victory of Alexander Nevsky. Based on the information received, this project was prepared. It can also be used in history lessons to make it more interesting for students to study this topic in class.

Chapter 1. The life and family of Alexander Nevsky.

Alexander Yaroslavich Nevsky was born in the family of Prince Yaroslav Vsevolodovich of Pereyaslav, the son of Vsevolod the Big Nest in 1221. Alexander, along with his brothers, according to the customs of that time, was put into the saddle early and began to teach military affairs. When he was 7 years old, he, along with his older brother Fedor, was sent to Novgorod to reign. In those days, the Novgorodians invited a prince for themselves, but in fact he did not actually rule the city, so the two young princes suited the townspeople quite well. We can say that Alexander spent his childhood in Novgorod. He became attached to this city, not without reason he defended it so many times later from enemies. When the brothers grew up, Fedor was supposed to marry and become an independent prince, but a misfortune happened - Fedor died a few days before the wedding. Alexander had to take responsibility early and become a prince of Novgorod.

It was at this time that a terrible misfortune occurred in Russia - crowds of Mongol-Tatars swept through the Russian lands, ruining and burning everything in their path. They passed all over Russia, many cities remained in ruins, and many inhabitants died. Many Russian princes also died, so Alexander's father remained the eldest in the family and became the prince of Kyiv. But how hard it was now to rule Russia! It was necessary to ask for a label from the Horde and humiliate yourself for this, step over your pride. It was very difficult for the Russian princes, who were not used to bowing their heads to anyone. But trouble does not come alone. Very soon, taking advantage of the misfortune that befell Russia, on Novgorod lands German and Swedish knights began to attack. How Alexander was able to protect the Russian cities will be described in more detail in the second chapter.

The Mongols brought misfortune and death to the Russian lands. They did not pass by Alexander's family either. His father Yaroslav Vsevolodovich went to distant Mongolia in order to get the right to his throne. There he died. It is still not known for sure whether he was poisoned by the Mongols or simply could not bear the difficulties of the journey. It was a tragedy for the whole family, but it was necessary to continue to live and manage Russian cities. Alexander and his brother Andrei were also summoned to the Horde. But the Tatars treated them favorably and divided the cities between them: Alexander got Kyiv, and Andrei began to reign in Vladimir.

Andrei could not come to terms with the Tatar rule. He rebelled against the power of the Mongols. As a punishment, the Mongol army went to the Russian cities, which remained in history as the “Nevryuev army”. Andrei himself fled from the retribution of the Mongols in Sweden, but the inhabitants had nowhere to go from the cruelty of the Horde. Alexander Nevsky had to go to bow to Batu and persuade him to withdraw his army. In this situation, he showed himself to be a people's defender and a wise ruler. Unlike his brother Andrei, who considered it humiliating to obey the Horde, Alexander thought about the people more than about his own honor. Probably, for this he was so loved by the inhabitants of Russia. When Alexander fell ill for a short time, all the people prayed for his health. In churches, prayers were served for the health of the prince. And what a great joy it was when the prince recovered.

We can say about the relationship of Alexander Nevsky with the Horde. For most of his reign, Alexander tried to be on friendly terms with the Tatars. Batu had a very high opinion of him, even wanted his son Sartak to make friends with the prince and learn from him courage and the art of governing the state.

Alexander Nevsky died on November 13, 1263, and it was a tragedy for all of Russia. Many mourned his death and paid tribute to his services to the fatherland in this difficult period for him.

Chapter 2. Victory of the prince.

Why did Alexander use this big love the Russian people? Of course, he showed himself to be a good sovereign, but this is not his only merit. Alexander Nevsky received the main fame as a skilled commander. Even his nickname - Nevsky - he deserved for his first major victory. Thanks to this victory, “Life” was written about the life of Alexander Nevsky, and yet they were written only about the most righteous, most worthy people, including Vladimir Svyatoslavich, his sons Boris and Gleb and others.

In the first half of July 1240, a Swedish detachment, which included Swedes, Norwegians and Finns, who came "with the prince and from the piskup", landed on the banks of the Neva. "The Swedish commander Birger thought that they would make a successful raid on weakened Russia, capture Novgorod and Novgorod lands will also receive rich booty.He was so confident in the successful completion of his campaign that he sent a message to Novgorod: "Alexander! Come out against me if you can and fight! I am already here and will captivate your land!"

Having received the message, Alexander read it to the people of Novgorod in the church of Hagia Sophia. Even earlier, Novgorodians received news of the advance of the armed Swedish detachment from the elder of the Izhor tribe, who lived near the banks of the Neva. The prince decided not to waste time and began to gather his detachment in order to deliver a preemptive strike. With his retinue and militia, the prince quickly reached the camp of the Swedes at the mouth of the Neva. Thanks to help local residents and the data of his scouts, Alexander was able to draw up a bold plan of attack on the enemy camp. At dawn, when no one expected the enemy, the prince attacked the Swedes with his retinue. Their heroic struggle and the feat of Alexander himself, his warriors and Novgorodians are mentioned in the Life of Alexander Nevsky. The chronicler who wrote it down was either an eyewitness himself or listened to the story of one of the participants in the events, because the whole battle is described in great detail. For this glorious victory, Alexander received the nickname Nevsky.

But not all Novgorodians deservedly thanked the prince. Very soon he quarreled with them and left for his native Pereslavl. Having learned about this, or maybe taking advantage of the fact that traitors were found in the Novgorod land, who were ready to sell their native land for a reward, German knights were going to Novgorod on a campaign. This trip was approved by the master Teutonic Order and in 1242 a crusade was organized against Russia. And this meant that the Germans did not just want to profit from the Russian lands. They hoped to subordinate these lands to the order and force the inhabitants to convert to the Catholic faith. Therefore, the next battle of Alexander Nevsky was not just against enemies, but also for the Orthodox faith. Knowing about the plans of the enemy, Alexander again showed his talent as a commander. He and his army decided to go out to meet the knights. On April 5, 1242, Alexander forced the enemy to accept the battle where it was beneficial and convenient for him. He showed both excellent knowledge of the terrain and enemy tactics. Skillfully using the advantages of his troops and correcting the shortcomings with a good alignment of forces on the ground, he was able to win a brilliant victory and for a long time discouraged the crusaders from attacking Russia. This battle went down in history as the Battle of the Ice. Very filmed about her good film director s. Eisenstein "Alexander Nevsky". It seems to me that this film very well conveys both the character of the prince himself and the role he played in Russian history.

But these are not Alexander's only victories. During his long reign, he will more than once rebuff both the crusaders and the Mongols. He devoted his life to protecting the Russian land, the Orthodox faith and the Russian people. For the sake of his well-being, he shed blood and sacrificed his pride and honor, even humiliating himself before the Mongols. And with his whole life, Alexander gives an example of what a true patriot of his Motherland should be.

CONCLUSION.

In my work, I wanted to show, using the example of the life and actions of Prince Alexander Nevsky, how a real citizen and resident of his country should behave. Describing his life, I wanted to show that not everyone in the situation in which Russia found itself at the beginning of the 13th century behaved this way. For example, Alexander's brother cared more about his pride than about the benefit of the people. As a result of the project, I was once again convinced that love for one's country and devoted service to it are never forgotten. The people gratefully keep the memory of those heroes who really deserve it.

In honor of Alexander Nevsky, back in tsarist times, the Order of Courage was established, which was awarded to brave men who served the Fatherland on the battlefields. And so great is the glory of the one whose name this order was named, that during the years of the Great Patriotic War this order was restored again. And the film I was talking about came out on the eve of the war with the Germans. And it seems to me that he greatly contributed to raising the spirit of our people.

But not only the military glory of Alexander is kept among the people. The prince was canonized by the Russian Church and the Alexander Nevsky Lavra in St. Petersburg was named after him.

I believe that the goal of my project has been achieved and I think that the results of this project can be shown to students so that they can once again see how many glorious heroes there are in our history. And that people pay for real heroic deeds with love and a long memory.

BIBLIOGRAPHY

1. Karamzin N.M. "History of Russian Goverment"Chapter II. Grand Dukes Svyatoslav Vsevolodovich, Andrei Yaroslavich and Alexander Nevsky 1247-1263.
2. Emets D. Alexander Nevsky: defender of the Russian land. "Come out against me and fight!"
3. "The Tale of the Life and Courage of the Blessed and Grand Duke Alexander".
4. Obukhova L. A. "Stories and readings on Russian history"

Pavel Korin. "Alexander Nevsky", a fragment of a triptych. 1942

This prince went down in history as a great commander who did not lose a single battle. His image has become for the Russian people a symbol of independence and the struggle against foreign invaders.

And yet, historians still cannot come to a consensus on who to consider Alexander Nevsky: a hero, the savior of Russia, or an enemy who betrayed his people.

Let's see why.

Son of Yaroslav

Alexander was born around 1220 in Pereyaslavl-Zalessky, where his father Yaroslav Vsevolodovich reigned. However, his childhood was mostly spent in Novgorod, whose ruler Yaroslav became from 1222.

When the young prince was about eight years old, he almost died. In 1228, his father left to gather an army for a campaign against Riga, but left his sons Fyodor and Alexander in Novgorod. That year, there was a severe crop failure in the Novgorod land: for several months in a row it rained incessantly, “people could not get hay, or harvest fields.” By winter, a terrible famine began. Novgorod rulers and the priest were blamed for all the troubles. The Novgorodians sent a messenger to Yaroslav demanding to urgently return to the city, but they did not wait for the prince - and the people decided to punish the guilty themselves.

In December, a rebellion broke out in Novgorod, the rebels began to rob and ruin the yards of local officials. The city split into two opposing camps, which dispersed along different banks of the Volkhov and were ready to pounce on each other with weapons in their hands. The bloodshed was prevented by the elements: blocks of ice were brought from Lake Ilmen to Volkhov, they hit the bridge, and it collapsed. Opponents remained on different banks.

At this time, the boyar Feodor Danilovich with a tiun (Boyar manager. - Approx. ed.) Yakim, whom the prince instructed to look after the children, fearing that the wrath of the Novgorodians could fall on the sons of Yaroslav, secretly took the princes out of the city. Perhaps their fears were not in vain, because, having learned about the flight of the Yaroslavichs, the Novgorodians exclaimed: - Some of the guilty can be timid fugitives! We do not regret them.

After the Novgorodians renounced Yaroslav and called for the reign of Mikhail Chernigov. True, they soon made peace with the former prince and asked him to return.

Battle on the Neva

Alexander began to reign on his own when he was about 16 years old. In 1236, Yaroslav went to Kyiv, and left Novgorod to his son.
When, two years later, the army of the Mongol-Tatars fell upon Russia, the Novgorod Republic was lucky - the invasion almost did not affect it. The Horde suffered considerable losses during the capture of the Ryazan and Vladimir principalities, and therefore decided to abandon the advance to the Baltic.
However, Novgorod did not remain aloof from the battles. Russia, weakened by the arrival of the Horde, was increasingly encroached upon by invaders from the west.
In the summer of 1240, the Swedish king, seeking to take control of the Izhora land, which was part of the Novgorod Republic, sent troops there. The invaders arrived on boats and, having landed at the mouth of the Neva, camped there. The leader of this army, Jarl Birger, sent ambassadors to Alexander with the words: “Fight with me if you dare. I am already standing in your land!”

The army of invaders clearly outnumbered the Novgorod one. Alexander understood that the neighboring principalities were unlikely to be able to help: in the same year, Batu ravaged most of the Russian lands and burned Kyiv. The prince did not even turn to his father for help, who, after the death of his brother, accepted the great reign and was engaged in the restoration of Vladimir destroyed by the Horde. Alexander decided to fight back Birger on his own.

There are few of us, but the enemy is strong, - he turned to the squad. - But God is not in power, but in truth! Go with your prince!

Alexander did not hesitate. Not having had time to really gather the Novgorod militia, he advanced to the Neva as soon as possible with the small squad that he had. A few days later, on July 15, 1240, Russian soldiers suddenly attacked the enemy camp. The invaders were confused - they did not expect that the enemy could appear in such a short time. Taken by surprise, the Swedes suffered huge losses. The battle continued until dark, and only the onset of night saved them from complete defeat. At dusk, the remnants of the Swedish army boarded the boats and departed home, taking with them the wounded Birger, to whom Alexander personally “put a seal on his face” with a spear.

Unlike the Swedes, the losses of the Novgorodians were insignificant. Thanks to this victory, Alexander received his famous nickname - Nevsky.

Hero's return

Despite the fact that Alexander saved the Izhora land from the Swedes, shortly after the Battle of Neva, the Novgorodians quarreled with him. The prince left for Pereyaslavl-Zalessky. However, the very next year, a new disaster began to threaten Novgorod - the soldiers of the Livonian Order crossed the Russian borders. The crusaders captured Izborsk, took Pskov. The order began to strengthen in the Russian lands and even built a fortress in Koporye.

Novgorodians understood that the crusaders were about to approach their city. To stop the invasion, they needed an experienced commander. Yaroslav Vsevolodovich offered them his son Andrei.

However, the Novgorodians, remembering the feat on the Neva, wanted to see another son of the Grand Duke - Alexander. But with him, they were in a quarrel! The boyars and the archbishop had to personally go to Pereyaslavl-Zalessky and persuade the prince to forget past grievances. Nevsky agreed to return.

As soon as he appeared in Novgorod, Alexander immediately got down to business. The prince gathered under his banner all the militia that was available in the surrounding lands, and led the army against the enemy. First of all, he stormed and destroyed the Livonian fortress in Koporye, then in the spring of 1242 recaptured Pskov. Having conquered the Russian lands, Nevsky did not rest on this. He decided to finally defeat the invaders in order to stop new invasion attempts, and to fight on enemy territory. In this campaign, brother Andrei joined him with the Vladimir regiments.
The Livonian knights were also not alone: ​​in the crusade they were supported by Danish vassals, as well as the local population of the Baltic states, which at that time in Russia was called a miracle.

Battle on the Ice

The Crusaders managed to defeat a small detachment that was ahead of the Russian army. Alexander retreated to Lake Peipus and lined up troops "on Uzmeni near the Raven stone." The formation of the crusaders attacked the Russian regiments head-on. As the chroniclers wrote, "the Germans made their way like a pig through the regiments of Alexandrov, and there was an evil slaughter." However, the knights did not even suspect that while the battle was going on, some of the previously hidden Russian soldiers were outflanking them. When the crusaders realized that they were surrounded, confusion began in their army. The Russians pursued the defeated enemy for seven versts, and few were saved. Some of the fugitives ran out onto the melted spring ice, which cracked, and the cold waters of Lake Peipsi swallowed up the soldiers.

Having won, Nevsky did not continue the campaign, but returned to Novgorod. Soon after, an embassy from the order arrived there with a request to make peace. At the same time, the crusaders officially renounced their claims to Russian territories and even conceded part of their own.

Alexander agreed.

With the defeat of the crusaders, the invasion of Russia from the west did not stop. Already in 1243, the Grand Duchy of Lithuania invaded the Novgorod lands. Alexander Nevsky also found strength against him: he defeated seven Lithuanian armies in turn. Lithuania appeared in Russia two years later, but the result was the same - the complete defeat of the invaders.

new brother

Heinrich Semiradsky. "Death of Alexander Nevsky". 1876

In the 1240s, most of Russia was under the rule of the Horde. In 1246, the Horde demanded that Alexander's father arrive in the capital of the Mongol Empire, Karakorum. This trip became fatal for Yaroslav Vsevolodovich - he was poisoned there.

According to the law, his brother Svyatoslav became the head of Russia. However, Alexander and Andrew felt that the father's throne should pass to them. They went to the Horde and in 1249 they really returned as princes: Andrei - the capital of Russia, Vladimir, Alexander - Kyiv. But three years later, the Mongol-Tatars unexpectedly changed their mind: Andrei for some reason fell out of favor with the Horde, and moreover, Batu's son Sartak sent the commander Nevruy against him with an army. Andrei was defeated and fled abroad, and Alexander became the new Grand Duke.

The Russian researcher of the 18th century Vasily Tatishchev wrote in his “History of Russia” that Alexander went to the Horde and complained about his brother: they say that he flattered the Horde to reign and did not pay tribute in full. Of course, after such a statement, Sartak got angry at Andrei. The Soviet historian Lev Gumilyov even stated that Alexander Nevsky, during a visit to the Horde, became the twin brother of Sartak. There is also an opinion that the commander Nevruy is Alexander: this is how the nickname of the prince, Nevsky, could sound in the Horde, because in one of the Mongolian dialects the Neva was called Nerva. True, all these versions do not have any actual confirmation - there is not a word about this either in the chronicles or in the works of other researchers.

It is only known that Alexander was indeed in the Horde at the time of Andrei's quarrel with Sartak.

Novgorod tribute

Having become the Grand Duke of Vladimir in 1252, Alexander moved to the capital. In Novgorod, he left his son Vasily to reign. Five years later, the Mongol-Tatars decided to conduct a population census in Russia in order to establish how much tribute should be paid to each of the principalities. They wanted to tax Novgorod as well. However, the Novgorodians refused to submit to the Horde, because, as already mentioned, the Mongol-Tatars did not seize their lands. Prince Vasily supported his subjects.

Upon learning of this, Alexander ordered his son to be put in shackles. All the Novgorod nobles, who did not want to submit to the Horde, were executed by order of Nevsky: who had their ears and noses cut off, who had their hands cut off, who were blinded. Thus, by the will of Alexander Nevsky, free Novgorod also became a tributary of the Mongol Empire. True, some historians justify the prince, believing that in this way he saved the Novgorodians.

Indeed, otherwise the Horde with fire and sword would have passed through their land.

Alexander Nevsky ruled Russia until the age of 43. During the next visit to the Horde, he became very ill. Khan let him go home. Alexander reached Gorodets and died there on November 14, 1263.

It’s either good or nothing about Alexander Nevsky. But a real historical figure is lost behind the chanting of the exploits of the Russian prince. Analysis historical sources shows that the figure of Alexander Nevsky is not without intrigue.

Faithful to the Horde

Historians are still arguing about the relationship between Alexander Nevsky and the Horde. Eurasian scholar Lev Gumilyov wrote that in 1251 Alexander Nevsky fraternized with Batu's son Sartak, "as a result of which he became the son of a khan and in 1252 brought a Tatar corps to Russia with an experienced noyon Nevryuy." According to Gumilyov, Alexander confidently created an alliance with the Golden Horde, and this alliance is considered not as a yoke, but as a boon.

The scientist claims that during the time of Alexander Nevsky there was a political and military alliance of Russia with the Horde.
According to another version, more common, Alexander Nevsky had no other choice, and he chose the lesser of two evils. The pressure of the West, the desire of Rome to spread Catholicism in Russia forced Alexander to make concessions to the East, because he was tolerant of Orthodoxy. Thus, Alexander Nevsky preserved Orthodox Russia.

But the historian Igor Danilevsky focuses on the fact that sometimes in chronicle sources Alexander Nevsky acts as a power-hungry and cruel person who made an alliance with the Tatars to strengthen his personal power.

But the harshest assessment of Nevsky’s “Tatarophilia” belongs to Academician Valentin Yanin: “Alexander Nevsky, having concluded an alliance with the Horde, subordinated Novgorod to the Horde’s influence. He extended Tatar power to Novgorod, which was never conquered by the Tatars. Moreover, he gouged out the eyes of dissenting Novgorodians, and there are many sins behind him. ”

In 1257 news came to Novgorod that the Horde wanted to take tamga and tithes from the Novgorodians. At that time, Alexander's son Vasily ruled in Veliky Novgorod, and Nevsky himself reigned in Vladimir. Novgorodians refuse to pay tribute to the Horde, and Alexander equips a punitive campaign against the recalcitrant city. Vasily Alexandrovich flees to neighboring Pskov. But soon his father catches up with him and sends him “to the Bottom”, to the Vladimir-Suzdal principality, and he executed those “who led Vasily to evil”: “cut off the nose of one, and vyimash the eyes of another.” For this, the Novgorodians killed Alexander's henchman, mayor Mikhalko Stepanich.

commander

AT recent times There is a strong opinion that Western Europe did not seriously threaten Russia, and therefore the value of the battles won by Alexander Nevsky is not great. We are talking, in particular, about downplaying the significance of the victory in the Battle of the Neva.

For example, the historian Igor Danilevsky notes that “the Swedes, judging by the Chronicle of Eric, which tells in detail about the events in this region in the 13th century, generally managed not to notice this battle.”

However, the largest Russian specialist in the history of the Baltic region, Igor Shaskolsky, objects to such an assessment, noting that “in medieval Sweden, before early XIV century, no major narrative works on the history of the country were created, such as Russian chronicles and large Western European chronicles.

The Battle on the Ice is also subject to depreciation. The battle is presented as a battle in which numerous troops perished. Based on the information of the “Elder Livonian Rhymed Chronicle”, which indicates only 20 knights who died during the battle, some experts talk about the insignificant scale of the battle. However, according to the historian Dmitry Volodikhin, the Chronicle did not take into account the losses among the Danish mercenaries participating in the battle, the Baltic tribes, and the militias that formed the backbone of the army.

Some historians estimate the army of Alexander Nevsky at 15-17 thousand people, and the German soldiers who opposed him - 10-12 thousand. Sometimes more - 18 thousand to 15.

However, on the 78th page of the Novgorod First Chronicle of the senior version it is written: "... and pada Chyudi was beschisla, and Nemets 400, and 50 with the hands of Yash and brought to Novgorod." The figure grows in the next chronicle, of the younger version: “... and the fall of Chudi was beschisla, and Nemets 500, and others 50 by the hands of Yash and brought to Novgorod.”

The Laurentian Chronicle puts the whole story about the battle in three lines and does not even indicate the number of soldiers and those killed. Apparently, this is not important and not significant?
"The Life of Alexander Nevsky" is a more artistic source than a documentary one. It has a completely different angle of view: spiritual. And on the spiritual side, sometimes one person is stronger than a thousand.

One cannot ignore the successful campaigns of Alexander Nevsky against the German, Swedish and Lithuanian feudal lords. In particular, in 1245, with the Novgorod army, Alexander defeated the Lithuanian prince Mindovg, who attacked Torzhok and Bezhetsk. Moreover, having released the Novgorodians, Alexander, with the help of his retinue, pursued the remnants of the Lithuanian army, during which he defeated another Lithuanian detachment near Usvyat. In total, judging by the sources that have come down to us, Alexander Nevsky conducted 12 military operations and did not lose in any of them.

How many wives?

In the life of Alexander Nevsky, it is reported that in 1239 Saint Alexander entered into marriage, taking as his wife the daughter of the Polotsk prince Bryachislav. Some historians say that the princess in holy Baptism was the namesake of her holy husband and bore the name of Alexander. At the same time, one can find reports that there was another wife: "Alexander, the first wife of the prince, Vassa, his second wife and daughter Evdokia, were buried in the cathedral of the Knyaginin Monastery." Here is what is written in the "History of the Russian State" by N.M. Karamzin: "

After the death of the first wife, the name of Alexandra, daughter Prince of Polotsk Bryachislav, Nevsky had a second marriage with Princess Vassa, unknown to us, whose body lies in the Assumption Monastery of Vladimir, in the Church of the Nativity of Christ, where his daughter, Evdokia, was also buried.

And yet, the existence of Alexander's second wife raises doubts among both historians and ordinary people who honor the holy noble prince Alexander Nevsky. There is even an opinion that Vassa is the monastic name of Alexandra Bryachislavovna.

Brother overthrow

It is known that in 1252, the brother of Alexander Nevsky, Andrei Yaroslavich, was expelled from the Vladimir reign by the "Nevryuev army" sent to him by Batu. According to popular belief, the prince was deprived of the label for not appearing in the Horde, but the sources do not contain any information about the summons of Andrei Yaroslavich to Saray.
The annals say that Alexander went to the Don to Batu's son Sartak and complained that Andrei received the grand prince's table not by seniority and did not pay tribute to the Mongols in full.

Historian Dmitry Zenin is inclined to see his brother Alexander as the initiator of the overthrow of Andrei, since, in his opinion, Batu was not particularly versed in all the intricacies of Russian inter-princely accounts and could not take on such responsibility.

Moreover, some researchers under the name "Nevruy" mean Alexander Nevsky himself. The basis for this is the fact that the Neva in the common Mongolian language sounded like "Nevra". In addition, it is rather strange that the name of the commander Nevruy, who was a rank higher than the temnik, is not mentioned anywhere else.

Arabic script on the helmet

On the helmet of Alexander Nevsky, in addition to diamonds and rubies, there is an Arabic script, the 3rd verse of the 61st sura of the Koran: "Rejoice the faithful with the promise of help from Allah and an early victory."

In the course of countless checks and examinations, it was established that the “Erichon Hat” was forged in the East (where the Arabic inscriptions come from) in the 17th century. Then, with an opportunity, the helmet ended up with Mikhail Fedorovich, where he underwent “Christian tuning”. Interestingly, the Arabic script also adorned the helmet of Ivan the Terrible, as well as other well-born people of medieval Russia. Of course, we can say that these were trophies. But it is difficult to imagine that the regulated Ivan IV put a used helmet on his crowned head. Moreover, in use by the "basurman". The question of why the noble prince wore a helmet with Islamic inscriptions still remains open.

Saint

Prince Alexander Nevsky canonized as a faithful. Due to Soviet propaganda, this ruler is most often presented as a successful warrior (he really did not lose a single battle in his entire life!), And it seems that he became famous only for his military merits, and holiness became something like a “reward” from Churches.

Why was he canonized? Not only because the prince did not agree to an alliance with the Latins. Surprisingly, however, an Orthodox diocese was created in the Golden Horde through his efforts. And the preaching of Christianity spread to the north - to the lands of the Pomors.
To this rank of saints - the faithful - are reckoned the laity, who became famous for their sincere deep faith and good deeds, as well as Orthodox rulers who managed to remain faithful to Christ in their public service and in various political conflicts. “Like any Orthodox saint, the noble prince is not at all an ideal sinless person, but he is first of all a ruler who was guided in his life primarily by the highest Christian virtues, including mercy and philanthropy, and not by a thirst for power and not self-interest.”

Outstanding commander, hero of the Neva battle and ice battle, Grand Duke Alexander Nevsky was a wise ruler and an experienced diplomat. The political path chosen by him did not allow Russia to disappear, and for many centuries determined the vector of development of our state.

Alexander Yaroslavich was born on May 13, 1221 in Pereyaslavl-Zalessky. He was the direct heir of the great Kyiv princes, Vladimir, the Baptist of Russia and Yaroslav the Wise, among his famous ancestors Yuri Dolgoruky and Vsevolod the Big Nest.

By the time of the beginning of the state activity of Alexander Nevsky, the situation in Russia was catastrophic. The invasion of the Mongol nomads in 1237-1238 caused enormous damage to the Russian lands. Cities and villages were devastated, thousands of peasants and artisans were overwhelmed, trade relations between cities ceased. The Mongols swallowed up the eastern and southern neighbors of Russia - the Volga Bulgarians, Polovtsy, Pechenegs, Torks and Berendeys. A similar fate awaited the Russians.

To some extent, the former structures of princely power, with inclusion in the Golden Horde, managed to save the father of Alexander Yaroslavich, Prince Yaroslav Vsevolodovich. After his death, his son Alexander had to continue this line. But besides the Mongol question, the prince had to solve the German question.

“The enmity of the German tribe with the Slavic belongs to such world historical phenomena,” according to the historian Nikolai Kostomarov, “which the beginning is inaccessible to research, because it is hidden in the darkness of prehistoric times.”

The Livonian Order, which had one of the most powerful rulers in Europe, the Pope of Rome, as its patron, launched an attack on the Slavic lands in the first half of the 13th century. This offensive was not a simple attempt by one state to expand its territory at the expense of another, it was a real crusade, in which knights from all over Europe participated, and which aimed at the political, cultural and religious enslavement of North-Western Russia.

In addition to the Livonian Order, the young Lithuanian state and Sweden threatened the Russian lands. The Novgorod reign of Alexander Yaroslavich fell precisely on the period of serious foreign policy complications in the north-west of Russia. And the appearance of the prince on the historical stage was already regarded by his contemporaries as providential.

“Without God's command, there would be no reign of his,” the chronicle says.

The political intuition of the young prince prompted him the right decision, to refuse the phantom help against the Mongols of the West, which, under certain conditions, was offered by Pope Innocent IV. It was obvious that agreements with the West could not lead to a positive result. At the beginning of the 13th century, European rulers revealed their true intentions when, instead of liberating the infidels from the Holy Land, in 1204 they captured Orthodox Constantinople.

Alexander will resist any attempts by Western neighbors to take advantage of Mongol invasion and take possession of the Russian lands. In 1240, he will defeat the Swedes on the Neva, and for this brilliant victory he will receive the name Nevsky, in 1241 Alexander Yaroslavich will knock out the invaders from Koporye, in 1242 - from Pskov and defeat the army of the Livonian Order and the Bishop of Dorpat on the ice of Lake Peipus.

As Kostomarov notes, Alexander Nevsky saved the Russians from the fate of the Baltic Slavs, conquered by the Germans, and strengthened the northwestern borders of Russia.

Having secured the western borders of Russia, Prince Alexander Yaroslavich set to work in the east. He traveled to the Horde four times to enlist the support of the khan. It was impossible to solve the eastern question by military means, the forces of the nomads significantly exceeded the forces of the Russians, so Alexander Yaroslavich chose the diplomatic path.

“With his prudent policy,” historian Vladimir Pashuto wrote about Prince Alexander Nevsky, “he saved Russia from final ruin by the armies of nomads. Armed with struggle, trade policy, selective diplomacy, he avoided new wars in the North and West, a possible, but disastrous for Russia, alliance with the papacy and the rapprochement of the curia and the crusaders with the Horde. He bought time, allowing Russia to get stronger and recover from the terrible devastation.

The balanced policy of Alexander Nevsky saved Russian Orthodoxy from mutation - union with Rome, allowed the Church to continue its mission in the Russian lands and even beyond its borders, in 1261, with the mediation of the Grand Duke, even the Sarai diocese was formed with a cathedra in Sarai-Batu, the capital of the Golden Horde .

According to the historian Georgy Vernadsky, thanks to the preserved Orthodoxy “as a moral and political force of the Russian people”, the emergence of the Russian kingdom was possible.

Russian Orthodox Church, highly appreciating the feat of life of Grand Duke Alexander Nevsky, glorified him in the face of saints.